Control mechanism for vending machines



w. A. TRATSCH 1,766,152

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Original Filed Nov. 9, 1928 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Jiine 24, 1930.

Zmnentor .Faidak 1 I (Ifiorneg June 24, 1930. vq, A. TRATSCH ,766,

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Originl Filed Nov. 9, 1928 5Sheets-Sheet 2 a I 3nventor HZ/9.731156 a ttomeg June: 1930, w, Tsc v1,766,152

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES ori ina Filed Nov. 9. 1928" 3Sheefbs-Sheet s mu// 4? I, I W/M Zhwentor raisck Gttorneg Paton ted June24,

{WALTER A. TRATSCH, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS fore proposed.

oon nonivrnonnnrsiyrron vnnnme MACHINES A p plication'filed l Tovernher1928, Serial This invention relates to-control mechanisms forvendingmachines and more particularlyto those of the' coinoperatedtype,f having for its object to provide a mechanism which will be moreeflicientin operation and less costly to manufacture than those hereto-7 -With these and other obj ects in view'the invention consists in thenovel details of con stru'ction and combinations of parts aSwill be morefully hereinafter disclosed and particularly pointedout in the claims. 3

, Referring to the accompanyingdrawings forminga part of thisspecification in which like numerals designate like parts'in all the.views 1 Fig. 1-isanelevational view of the rearof; a mechanism made inaccordance with this i'nventlon; '1, q

Fig. 2 1s a tOPPlZLIl'VlGW of thepa'rts shown Fig. 3'is a verticalsectional View of the 7 parts illustrated'in Fig.*2,taken"as on the line33 of said figure and-looking in thedirection of the arrows Fig. 4 is adetail perspective view illustrat ing "the coin'trap'and coin separatingdevice used in connection with-this mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view showingsome of theparts'i-llustrated'in Fig. 8 ma different position}; 7 I F'g. 6 is adetail of some of the parts shown inFig. 5 in a stilldifierent'position; V

Fig. 7 is a View of the coin slot platetake'n as onthe line 7-7of Fig.3and looking in the dir-ection'ofthe arrows; 7"

Fig. 8 is a partial perspective View similar to Fig. 4: but showing theparts in slightly difi'erentfposition Fig- 9 is-a horizontal sectionalview taken i as 'on the line 99 of Fig. 7 and looking in the directionof the arrows; and

- Fig. 10 is a detail view similar to Fig.5 but illustrating the partswhen an'unauthorized' coin isx'usedin the mechanism. Y I

This mechanisms applicable-to many clifferent kinds of vending machineswhich form no .partof this-invention. "In other words, this invention isdirected to a mechanism adapted to, be controlled by the'insertion of aother similar deviceis'inserted which does as. 318,152. Renewed.February "a, 1930.! i

coin' or trade check which, if ofpredetermined"characteristics,willpermit the mech'a; 1

nism to operate the Vending machine. Oil-the other handfthemechamsm Wlllnot funct1on to operate thevendingmachine1f'a coin or.v

check; That is-to say, thereare providedz grooves 2, 3 and whicharesubstantially parallel," the groove 2 extending from top'to bottom oftheplate and adjacent one edge thereof. Alongone-side of this groovethere is mo'unteda magnet 5 forthe purpose of di V vertin anironor-steel'disk' or washer from theaxlal line of the groove 2 intoasecondary groove 6- freelyjopen at the bottom ofthe plate as=i r' 1-:licat'edat9. 7 In Fig. there is shown in dashedlines'the path oftravel of an iron washer which has just passed out of the slot 6 toassume the ipojsition indicated at 7, said washer being permit 1 ted todrop through a chute notshown-which expels it from. the machine-"If; onthe other handya disk or coin of non-magnetic characteristic is insertedin'the groove 2; it will pass the magnet 5 without being deviated fromits 1 vertical path, and-will therefore" fall untilzit strikes deflector:8 axially disposedi'n said grooves aiidhaving itsupper face so inclinedas to cause the coin' 10 to roll laterally through I an obliquelydisposed crosspassage. 11 as clearly indicated in Fig.7 and enterthegintermediate groove 3. Herethecoinwillcome to rest on a slideadapted to'lift said coinver- .95

tically in said grooveB and cause the coin-to roll into and through'atransversepassage 2 way 12 intoj the top of the third groove 4. Uponentering this grooveaiheco'in will ion".

.pelled as lndlcated at 17 fromthe mechanism U drop downwardly thereinbut come to rest on atrap-devi'ce presently to be described.

Should therebe a coin in the intermediate I groove 3 as indicated at 13when thernext subsequent coinis'inserted in the -mechanism,

theisubsequent coin if not attracted, by the magnet 5 willrpassdownwardly through the grooves 2 and 11 but when it strikesthepreviously inserted coin at 13 it'will be directed v m or bouncedtherefrom so that it will pass reversely through a portion of the groove11' and roll down through a discharge groove "'14v obliquely inclined*to' cau'sesaid subsequently inserted coin toleave the mechanism throughthe op'ening'9 as shown'at 7 V in'Fig. 7. i V lna, somewhat similarmanner, i fa coin'has --reached a position in the groove e as indicatedat 15 and then a subsequently inserted coinis inserted in the'mecha'nismbut' which is lacking in a characteristic required to operi ate thelattenthen said subsequently inserted ,coin will be eventually directedinto the grooved but when it strikes the coin 15 therein it willhe'houjnced or directedth'erefrom laterally through the opening 16 andbe ex to be returnedto the operator of the machine.

7 ItiS understood of course that this front platel in which the coingrooves are formed is covered 'bygafplate20 or its equivalent so thatthe aforementionedgrooves-will become coin chutes. I V

Thiscover plate 20 has mounted thereon the. mechanism for controllingthe vending machine.) That is to say, and-With particular reference to.Figssl, 2 and3 there is rigidly fmachine-may-turn said shaft. Bigidlysecured to thes'ha-ft. 2 3 ;is an arm having Y for eaclrpinias clearlyshown in :Fi'g. 3 to I 50 extend away from said walls, as indicated at2-5, outwardly through thecas-ing ofthemachine and to have secured atitsend a. suitable handle by'means of which the operator of the mountedOn Qneface thereof a couple of head'- ed pins suchas 26 adapted to;serve} as guides for a liftingbar27 having an elongated slot permitlimited movement of said bar The bar 27 hasse'curedito its rear end oneend of a spring 28, the other end of which is secured to a pin129carried 'by-thearm 25 saidspring serving to force the'bar' 27 in adirection toward the coin lifting slide as'shown. The

forward end ofthis bar is angularly'bent as indicated'at 30. andprovided with a finger adapted toproject into the coin chute 3 i andmove in thevertical'axial plane thereof.

j The coin lifting slide 32 is provided with 7 an aperture through whichsaid finger passes, and. in the movement of said finger V 7 said. slidewill be operated. 'Said :plate 32 carries a lug3having an obliquelyformed upper surface, said lug adaptedto fit in the coin chute 3 andraise a coin from the'posi-- tion shown at 13 in Fig. 7 to the top ofthe I chute, said oblique upper surface causing saidcoin to bepositively directed: into and" chute 4. The lug 34,taperture "33 andfinger-T 7 through the cross passage. 12into the coin 31 all sodimensioned and located with re-- spectto the cross passage 11 and thechute :3 that a coin resting onsaidlug willnot only "cover saidaperturebut willjcause a subsef' quently inserted coin tobedirected intothedischarge chute l4.

Loosely mounted'ontheshaft 2 3 is arock ing lever 35 whose rear end isconnected as by a heavy duty spring 36 um pi'n'37 mounted on thesupporting wall22 which also carries .a lug 38 engagingthe forward. endof said leverto. limit the movement thereof'under actionof said spring.The length of the forward end of said lever is such that when the bar 27is moved upwardlyin the direction of the arrows in Fig. 3 upon'rotationofthe shaft 23, the extension atthe forward end. of

said bar will clear the extreme end ofsaid lever if the bar has not beenpushed back against the tension of its spring 28 by a coin in the chute3 having a solid'center. in other 1 words, the bar 27 in i'ts upwardmovement I i will clear the end of the lever as indicated .in-Fig. 10when it is operated with either no coin or a centrally apertured tradecheck in the coin chute 3. f The reason for this "is that the tension ofthespring 28'will cause the 3--or in other Words outwardly eirtendedtothe end of the finger 3'1;offthe bar 27 in its upward movement willcontact with said coin orjf trade check with the result that sa'idbarwill be forced inwardly orgto the right as clearly indicated in Figs. 3and 5; -When this occurs. the end piece-30 ofgsaid bar will strike theunderside of the forwardend of the lever 35, causing said lever to rockabout th e shaft 23 against the tensionof the spring 36 and inth'ismovement a rod 40, pivotally-secured' to "the rear end of said leverwill be actuated tothrow a' suitable device which will start the bar toremain in the position shownfin Fig. V

the fan limit permitted by the holding pins if On theother hand ifthereisa coin or trade i 7 check having a solid center in the chute 3then.

actual operation of the vendingimachine. That is to say thezvending isstarted at-the end of thedownward movement ofsaid rod 7 I rand,whatever.releasedevice is used maybe automatically reset by thereverse movement V of said rod. No mechanism-of this sort is illustratedsince it forms no part of this inven-- i 7 tion. a v

The rear end of thelever 35 carries a pinll to which may be secured thespring36 said pin normally contacting and supporting one end 42 of afull stroke compelling'leverifree 3 1y pivoted as at 43 to thesupporting Wall 7 21, a spring 44; being interposed between-the s end 42of said lever and: the arm 12 carried by t-heshaft 23. Betweenithepivotal?) and the end 42, the "full stroke-:-oompelling lever hasa'flateral extension l5 which when the end 42 is supported as abovestated j ustclears thefteeth formed on the arcuate end of actull stroke;compelling arm 46 rigidly; mounted on the shaftf23 or which maybe anintegral,

extension ofthe arm 25. v

With particular referenceitoFigs. 3 I

it will thus be seen' that'when'the bar-27 moves upwardly and passes bythe end of the rocking lever 35, the'teeth of the full stroke compellingarinflficwill pass the ex tension 45:01 the full stroke; compellinglever without engaging thesamef', 0n the other hand-when the bar" 27 is'forc'ed inwardlmby arequisite coin, ltQW llllil'l itsupwardmovementcau'sea lift-ingofthe end; of: the rocking lever, nexttothe coin chute, which will in turnlcause a downward movement. of thepinv 41' at theother'end of said lever. --This per mitsl the full strokecompellin g'lever'to swing v aboutits pivot 43 vbringingthe extension 45thereof into engagement with the teethof the full st roke compelling arm46. The full stroke compelling lever is :limited in its oscilla't'ingmovement byaslot 47 disposed in'the to make any free end ofeaid leversaidi-fslot engaged by a pin l8ycarried by the supporting wallQl.

Since full stroke compelling'cdevices are well knownin the art'lt1Sf110t deemed necessary i jthe same,

vAlsopivoted to:'the supporti 2251s 1 at 50 is-a dog 51 having its rearend Connected by aspring ,52 to .thefipinBTQ',Thepforward end of, thedog is}rouncled,jand adapted; to

' engagebehind the e xtensioirjiiO of the bar 27;

Whensa'id bar ismoved upwardly. :The dog:

51" is given. its turnlng niovem'ent by a pin 53 extending laterallytherefrom and adapted to ride on the upper surfacefi l of the arm 25secured to the'sha ft 23, see Fig. 6. That is to say, when the-bar 27,causes thelever 35 to ock, the extending- -portion 30,5015; the for? merstick or bi-nd when the bar reaches 7 }the ,limit otitsupwardmovement'due to the fact that-t es jta c' hepa s may b i so com'e' considerable throughffriction; and wear;

1 It-is essential that theiparts be'inovedto their o. I original"positions after; each, operation of the me hanism, in lor de oains re;P p r in loo bs quentlygk l se t ic I a of t e r, barf rom.. its u ereat the for ard, endQ 't-t e l rokingl v fifi atjv he en ii -thenie em:ef hek u s ekeebmre ne i o e words, the full;- stroke; compelling armisso disposed ;,',on ,t'he @sh'aft 23, thefarcuate length of theitoothedend 'o'f said-armrissuch 7 that at the end of the; engagement betweensaidarm and the full stroke compelling lever,

the ppe r c 5 il he arm 2 Wi lfl ave furtherI'statement' hereregardcaused,through pin 53, a movementof the i dog 51 which'issufiicient to cause thelatter to torcetheextension- 30 of the, bar: 27out froinunder the end of the rocking lever 35. When this occurs saidleverunder the action v QfltSSPIlIlg 36 will snap back to ts-normal '5lnoperative position, resting upon the: lug 38 providedtheretorgaS canreadily beunder- 23 has been'reversely rotated by the action of thespring 52'. I

'Thehcoin trap is, 7 and 8. The plate 20 coveringthe coin chute islaterally slotted as at160 to receive the stood from Fig. 6. vThe dog 51will be re-' turned to its normal position afterthe shaft bestillustrated inFigs. 4,

turned over end 611 ofthe trap lever 62 piv- I oted to said plate asat63, a springfil tendingto force the turned over end :61 toythe limit ofsaid'slotJf The other end ofgthe lever has an extension'65 adapted totravelacross the lower'end of thechute to intercept and hold insaid'chute acoin asindicated 'at- 15 inFigr-T. When the leveris oscillated,however, the coin will be unsupported and will drop from the bottom ofsaid chute. To keep there is provided a I holding lever .66 pivotedat'it's upper end tosaidplate asat 67.. This per-end of the trap le'ven,The free end of the, holding lever passes through an opening in thewall'22 andfis provided with a cam sure face 68-adapted to becontactedby a knob '69 tormedon one side of the rocking 18V6I4'35 at the forwardend thereof; see Figs. 4:,and8.

inoperative posit-ion its knob '69 will force and hold the'holding leveragainst-the trap p: 4

lever to cause the extension 65 thereof to in tercept and'holda coin inthe chute 4. How? ever, when the rocking lever is oscillated theknoblthereofwill movejout ofcontactwith theholding-levenat which timethejspring v '110 64 willcause the trap lever .to oscillate within thelimitsof the slot'60 in its-supportingplate holding lever issubstantially L-shaped and] bears atits bend against one edge of the up:

W Vhenths rocking lever 35.,isin its, normal 20. and thus swingctheextension fie from be; neaththe coinshown' at 15. '''The osclllatlon ofsaid lever 35 is onlyjcausedby-a requisite com or trade chek-andjthereforethegtrap lever :is provided with the] turned "over end 61which, duringzsaid oscillation isimoved into'the ,ohute 4' to interceptthe coin CQ l; trollingsaid oscillation, and the; cross pas:

sage 12 is inclined downwardly toward" said *ehute 4 to prevent saidcoin leaving the latter;

W hen the rocking lever again assumesits normal inoperative'i'positionits knob willcon ta ct thepcam surfaceof the"hold1ng' lever, causing thelatter @to move theupper end; 61

of theitra p lever to release thesubsequently' j 90 the extension inposition to support a coin I trap lei er will fall into "the trough 70but the secend trough 72 while'larger coinses ind'icat'ed'at 7 5 in'said figure will bridge said o ieenirigen'd' fall *eilt; the" Open endof the. tIDUgh 'YO iI it'O a separate; coiirbox.

'Thereja'refour types of disk Whichare used "One is th'e'co n' WhlChflSntendedffcr use;

i win Other is 2 solid iioh-magneti'c disk kr 'ownjas tr'ztdefch'eckWhichyniay be authoritatively psje'd i fplgic'e ef nioney initi'ieestablishment gzwwhere the'v'ending machine islecated; the

ti'iird-ty'pe' is an iron or steel disk or asher v whichisiusedifrudulently; end the fourth typeis e nun-ma netic disk. likewiseknown ga e trade eh'eckbiit whiehhas a hole in: its :30 center and whichis not intended for use in j said establishment, t l-As'stetedhereinbeforq th'eifrohbf steel yi 'zisher's will be drawn; by fthe magnet 5f iut oi the {coin chute 2; but the ether types ofdi'sksbein gneimhegnetic will pa s 'irito' the chute 3 andhe raised bythe jslide 32.; l-fewei er the 7 j the bar 27'iwi11 paSlSithfOfighSaid-apeitjire 4 5 ahdthus prevent sei dbarfrom being moved jefperfiireddisks willtherefo re pass throu h the'cein-fc'hute's Q'flfid' 3 and beelilixinat'ed fti" V V dicited see Fig. ltfwjill thi 's he seen that thetililjd is'ksjiirhich willo emte themaehine" v iahdtherefdre-QbyVpredetermi ejdfcherxctem desig-ried fore machine intendedt6"yend'merehahdise D1 to giv' sbmesertfifemusemeiitt6 theiya'lue oftengceht's 1nd te" this end the eb i i ehutei'2 is i me, thusautematieally f V efiise ef gmyother cjein; 'Trjii'del checks made fofzi diameter 'difie reht fibril th'atef ejeins "and therefore thetreug-hTO theici-iis from the tra' de Ff-om the i0 'oing this mechanismedmprises e coin chut hayirig" p'assa'gesin elifierentplanes eiidsdcehmiiiii;

" jkt to and fthieiigh medium to the'di'scherge Of EIJ'COiIljbOX 7 3."Ail ceinsfreieas'ed' by the the OpeniIigT 1 therein is spaced closer toone sidethereof and said trough is tilted sojthat ceirisotlfesser'diameten as indicated at 74 iii Fig." ywili fall-through, said"opening into H iii attempt t6 operate vending machines.

disks having a eengi; tral japerture will not permit I o eration of thevending ma c-hinehecause the finger 5310f rite osition to rockthe1'everfi35l Theseeiightheepenihg;lefromthe chute ias in are actualcoins or selid ilbn-mggiletie; disks,

sag fer releasing 2t p're pro ide'd tit-hthe ap rture 71' for thep-ur; 1

it Willthusb'e seen'th'at; ifigngjfgr f l 'as ingthe reta ningmeans; i VI'Iiiftt i v ce'b'f the;charki'cteiifdescribed H i p a V .phirahtybfpsmll llyjdispesect "coin c eatm that a co msy be passed from theinchute and thatzwh ileth'e' 'ccin is so traversing the chuteltm'aycause e'reciprocablefbar to r V be m'o ve'd' into locking positionWadimmnstb I V actuate the'veiiding 'inechanism, all in accordi 'whichisactuated by means comprising are-. i

the COiilfYThG chute is proVidedwith-aslide tatable'shaft, an armatta'ched-therete,-' a -bar ing the slide'and adapted to eh-ter thechute,

end when the coin having a solid 'ce nt'e1 (pre-' determinedcharacterlstre's): is ln"pO Slf/IOI1'O I 1.

the slide it will obstrilct the chi'it'e to the (-iiitfeiittersaidchute. When thisSfitiieitiofiexists the latter t0;be'l'noveda-gaihst the springte'nsion of net permittingthe end ofthe'finger to en v V "finger being rigid with the bar will ca Lise the}:

thereef wh'ereiipon'aleteraliextensien of said bar will: come intolocking Contact with the V rocking" lever so: that 1 continued mpi ingof ,th'e said bar ln an 'zrrc'uate direction zibo'utthe;

shaft will cause the'rdcking lever to movefiff and actuatethe-Vendingmechanism Then the central 'ap'e'rt'ured disk isjen slidehowever, the endjof theyfin-gerwill be,

unobstructedeor in ether werdsj'rli'ay pass throughj th -hole insaiddisk, enteri g the 00in chute and therefore permitting he rec lip?rocatlon or sliding movement 0f thejbarsmto l'o'ckin position With therocking lever. 'It

may," thereferepreperly he stated that the ii jei'der to 11 ove therocking lever which aetu tes the vending mechanism;

fore. not Idesire'd to be to move theslide in thec'oih chute isgovernable by a co n of predetermined char-i ioo V 7 going except as tey be requiredf by the" A In a'deVice'of-thech21meterdescribed awin-chute empi-isingaplumlity of" M i ages with a .eemmen inlet essomecl with j 1 oii'e ith 'd with anotherp v eu'slyjinserted o ndacp g 'mn smferyactuati g ea; first andse'cendheiiied meaiis; i

j eined by erase -passages;- ti slideiiii one ehiites vfor nievfin'g a-ceii1' "therethfei gh ,1 is:

shaft and means therewith tomove said slide means associated withgthedischarge chute for retaining a previously inserted coin; and 1plurality of 'p'arallelly disposed coin chutes means for releasingtheretaining means said means controlled by the first mentioned means.

4. In a device of the character described a joined by cross-passages;a'slide in one ofsaid chutes for moving: a com therethrough; a shaft andmeans therewith to move saldslide said means cooperating with the coinmoved 'by said slide; means associated with the discharge chute forretaininga previously intaining means.

sertedcoin; and means for releasing the re:

5. ,Ina control for vending mechanism in";

combination a coin chuteadapted to receive disks with solid or'opencenters said chute compr sing a vertical 7 passageway for rece1v-; ingthe 111S61t8d d1sl: alldflpelmlttlng' ts travel. therethrough, a secondZ vertical pas,-

' second passageway to receive and discharge sageway communicating'withsaid first mentioned passageway to receive disk'slfrom said firstmentioned passageway5fand -a third vertical passageway communicat ng:wlth said the disks there-from; aislide in said second} I passageway forcausing a; disk therein to move to and into said third passageway; and;means to operate said slide saldameans' con-- nected to the vendingmechanism to actuate I the same when said slide isj noving a disk"th.eretl 1'rough,,a second vertical passageway communicatingwithsaidfirstmentioned pas- I sageway to received sks-from=sa1dffirstmentionedpassageway, and a third vertical passageway communicating with saidsecond passageway'to receive and discharge the disks therefromya slideiinrsaid second passageway for causing a'disk therein to move to andinto. said third passageway; and means to operate said slide said meanscooperating with the disks moved thereby, and connected-to "thevendingmechanism toactuate thesame when w 1 said slide isinoving adisk'witha solid center and disconnected fIOHlSfild'IIlGChELIllSHI when'ilnja said slide is ten to actuate, the vending mechanismyan open atingshaft and means carried by said: shaft torn ovefs'aid' slide,saidfme'ans being goyern'g able'loy coinof predetermined rcharact'eritomove: said first named 'mea'nsL 1 8; In acontrol'devicefor vendingmechak msm the comblnat onjof moving adisk withan open cenj' p I controldevice fora'vending niecha-f v ,nism'the comblnat on'ofa coinchute;ashde 1n saldchute to move a co1n .there1n;1neans f coinchute; a slide.

insaid chute to move a coin therein; means,

to actuate the vending mechanism; an opery ating shaft; and meanscarried by s aid shaft adapted to enter said chute to move said slide,said means being governahle by a coin of pre-' determined character tomove said first named means."

- r 9. In a controldevice for a vending mecha- I nism the comblnation ofa com chute; a sllde l in said chuteto move a'coin therein; means toactuate the vending mechanism; an operating shaft; and means to'movesaid slide said means comprising an arm rotatable: with said shaft,abarreciprocably mounted on said arm and provided with a finger engagingsaidslideiand adapted to enter said chute;

said bar'heing moved into engagement with said first named means when acoin of predetermined character stops said'fing'er' from eni tering saidchute. a v

10.; In a control'device for a vending mechanism .the'comhination of acoin. chute ;aslide' f in said chute to move a coin therein means'to'actuate the vending mechanism; an operating shaft; and means to movesaid slidersaid means comprising an arm rotatable with. said shaft; abar reciprocablymounted on saidarm and providedwith a lateral'extensionas well as with a finger engaging said slide 1 and adapted to enter saidchute, the extension of said bar being moved, into engagement with saidfirst named means-when a coin of 'predetermined character stops saidfinger from entering said chute. p

In testimony whereof IafiiX'my signature. I 1 NVALTER'A; TRATSCH.

ice 7

